S
stridsberry
Guest
Taped up nose and all, Matt Kenseth continues to hold the lead in the Ratings, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. leapfrogging into 2nd. Drivers who took advantage of Talladega’s fickleness include Sterling Marlin, Ward Burton, and Terry Lbonte; among those who fell victim to the plates were Johnny Benson, Jimmy Spencer, and Rusty Wallace.
1. (1) MATT KENSETH 162.3
All of the Roush cars wrecked. Just Matt was able to come back for a good finish.
2. (3) DALE EARNHARDT JR. 145.2
Maybe the pass was legal. Maybe it wasn’t. Maybe the car was or wasn’t legal. But you can woulda-coulda-shoulda this all day, and it won’t change a thing.
3. (2) KURT BUSCH 139.4
Kurt Busch? Mid-pack finish? An association that I thought had gone the way of the passenger pigeon.
4. (5) JEFF GORDON 126.1
Just kind of hung around near the front all race, disguised in Pepsi blue. If he had won, would he have been recognized in Victory Lane?
5. (T7) RICKY CRAVEN 124
Twice now this year, Ricky has finished 4th. Both times, he was the only top-5 finisher not to be interviewed. Yet another reason that I hate Fox.
6. (T7) JIMMIE JOHNSON 122.3
Good things go bad, and the result is semi-ugly. At least Jimmie didn’t wad up the car when he spun.
7. (12) KEVIN HARVICK 116.7
Instead of just being a blip on the screen, the plate races have been the high points of a solid season to date.
8. (6) MICHAEL WALTRIP 115.7
This isn’t what’s supposed to happen here! You’re supposed to be pushing Junior across the line, not tearing down the fence!
9. (4) RYAN NEWMAN 110.2
In six career plate races, Ryan has four DNF’s. Put him at the top of the list in favor of racing elsewhere.
10. (14) ELLIOTT SADLER 108.4
Qualified 3rd, and finished 3rd. So Elliott, where the heck were you in between?
T11. (10) TONY STEWART 103.2
This is what you call a “mini-slump”. The cars and driving haven’t been bad, but the luck just isn’t there.
T11. (11) MARK MARTIN 103.2
At least he was running competitive speeds at the finish. That’s more than you can say for half the field.
13. (16) DALE JARRETT 102.1
He doesn’t have a top-10 finish since the win, but has still managed to remain in 12th in points. But Elliot’s back ahead of him.
14. (9) BOBBY LABONTE 98.5
Since winning at Atlanta, Bobby has run four races. He has crashed out of three of those races. Maybe he should try the purple car again.
15. (25) STERLING MARLIN 97.6
He made a big gain in points, but I still expected at little more or of Sterling at this point of the year. Then again, he’s only 45 points out of 10th.
16. (22) ROBBY GORDON 97.2
Through last year, Robby had no top-10 finishes at plate tracks. This year, he’s 2-for-2.
17. (17) GREG BIFFLE 93.9
The pig needed that draft to stay fast. Once the pig fell victim to a slow pit stop, the day went downhill.
18. (13) RUSTY WALLACE 91.4
Normally, Rusty would probably be ecstatic heading into this weekend. But he’s been 0-for-short tracks the past two years.
19. (15) RICKY RUDD 91.35
Three laps and done. That’s a short day at work, even in a 40-lap feature at a short track.
20. (19) JOE NEMECHEK 90.9
Late engine trouble dropped him back in the finishing order. The strong start has slowed somewhat, and he needs to pick it back up.
21. (21) JAMIE McMURRAY 90.8
Welcome to the Big One, kid. And to think you came out of it better than most. At least you finished.
22. (18) DAVE BLANEY 90.6
He has fallen clear of the radar since Darlington. Crash, engine failure, crash, in that order. Maybe they over bargained with Lady Luck.
23. (30) WARD BURTON 86.5
Top-10 finish! So what if it was at a plate track; you haven’t looked that good since Martinsville last year (led most laps). Speaking of Martinsville…
24. (31) TERRY LABONTE 86.4
Same thing here: who cares if it was at a plate track? Terry and his fans will take a top-5 any way they can get it.
25. (24) JEFF BURTON 85.6
Just when he had a shot at staying in the top-20 in points, here comes the Big One to sweep him right back out.
26. (27) KENNY WALLACE 84
Did Kenny get penalized for his contact with Jimmie Johnson? How else would Tony Raines (who had lost the draft long before) have beaten him?
27. (26) JEFF GREEN 82.1
From the penthouse of RCR to shop restroom duties, in a big, big hurry.
28. (32) BILL ELLIOTT 81.9
He faded a bit in the final laps, but considering how the season has been, Bill’s got to take what he can get in terms of finishes.
29. (20) JOHNNY BENSON 81.8
He’s dropped 17 positions in points in the last four races. But remember how close he came to winning last year at Martinsville.
30. (23) JIMMY SPENCER 79.4
Where’s Jimmy? He’s out crinkling Mongo’s nose, that’s where.
31. (29) STEVE PARK 78.9
For once, Steve looked like the DEI car to beat. Then his spoiler decided to come loose on him.
T32. (28) JERRY NADEAU 73.2
A one week reprieve, and then back to the same old crap luck. What’s a soldier gotta do to win? Be in Baghdad?
T32. (33) JEREMY MAYFIELD 73.2
He’s finally done noteworthy things! Good pole. Not so good wreck. Decent finish. Now about your points…
34. (39) KYLE PETTY/FTTIPALDI 67.7
Kyle said this was what PE spent most of their off-season working on. It looks like it paid off.
35. (36) JOHN ANDRETTI 67.5
Do not adjust your TVs; that really was John Andretti, crumpled nose and all, leading the race and finishing in the top 15.
36. (35) TODD BODINE 63.9
Couldn’t quite go two straight weeks without wadding the car up, could you, Todd?
37. (34) CASEY MEARS 60.4
“So THIS is what it’s like to not finish a WC race. Heck, you get a decent check and don’t even break a sweat! Maybe I should do this more often…or not.”
38. (37) KEN SCHRADER 58.8
On the track: BAM! BAM! Scrrreeeeech! BAM! BAM!
In the garage: BAM! BAM! Scrrreeeeech! BAM! BAM!
I ask you, which one is safer?
39. (38) MIKE SKINNER 57.3
Pop quiz: In the last 3+ years, how many Kodak moments have there been for this team? Any answers? Thought so.
40. (40) JACK SPRAGUE 56.2
Time for a Chris Roberts-type question: Does the Big One in Winston Cup bear any similarities to those that occur in Busch Series cars?
41. (41) TONY RAINES 50.1
I guess Tony had the right strategy after all, taking a provisional for the start. He might have done better had he not lost the lead draft on the final pit stops.
42. (42) LARRY FOYT 37.3
In eight race attempts, the line is: 3 DNQ’s, and a best finish of 30th. Is it too late to try and convince your dad and sponsor to drop back down to the Busch Series again?
43. (43) BRETT BODINE 32.9
He’s made and attempted more races than any other part-timer this year, which is why he’s still on the list. He could use some help at the plate tracks, though.
1. (1) MATT KENSETH 162.3
All of the Roush cars wrecked. Just Matt was able to come back for a good finish.
2. (3) DALE EARNHARDT JR. 145.2
Maybe the pass was legal. Maybe it wasn’t. Maybe the car was or wasn’t legal. But you can woulda-coulda-shoulda this all day, and it won’t change a thing.
3. (2) KURT BUSCH 139.4
Kurt Busch? Mid-pack finish? An association that I thought had gone the way of the passenger pigeon.
4. (5) JEFF GORDON 126.1
Just kind of hung around near the front all race, disguised in Pepsi blue. If he had won, would he have been recognized in Victory Lane?
5. (T7) RICKY CRAVEN 124
Twice now this year, Ricky has finished 4th. Both times, he was the only top-5 finisher not to be interviewed. Yet another reason that I hate Fox.
6. (T7) JIMMIE JOHNSON 122.3
Good things go bad, and the result is semi-ugly. At least Jimmie didn’t wad up the car when he spun.
7. (12) KEVIN HARVICK 116.7
Instead of just being a blip on the screen, the plate races have been the high points of a solid season to date.
8. (6) MICHAEL WALTRIP 115.7
This isn’t what’s supposed to happen here! You’re supposed to be pushing Junior across the line, not tearing down the fence!
9. (4) RYAN NEWMAN 110.2
In six career plate races, Ryan has four DNF’s. Put him at the top of the list in favor of racing elsewhere.
10. (14) ELLIOTT SADLER 108.4
Qualified 3rd, and finished 3rd. So Elliott, where the heck were you in between?
T11. (10) TONY STEWART 103.2
This is what you call a “mini-slump”. The cars and driving haven’t been bad, but the luck just isn’t there.
T11. (11) MARK MARTIN 103.2
At least he was running competitive speeds at the finish. That’s more than you can say for half the field.
13. (16) DALE JARRETT 102.1
He doesn’t have a top-10 finish since the win, but has still managed to remain in 12th in points. But Elliot’s back ahead of him.
14. (9) BOBBY LABONTE 98.5
Since winning at Atlanta, Bobby has run four races. He has crashed out of three of those races. Maybe he should try the purple car again.
15. (25) STERLING MARLIN 97.6
He made a big gain in points, but I still expected at little more or of Sterling at this point of the year. Then again, he’s only 45 points out of 10th.
16. (22) ROBBY GORDON 97.2
Through last year, Robby had no top-10 finishes at plate tracks. This year, he’s 2-for-2.
17. (17) GREG BIFFLE 93.9
The pig needed that draft to stay fast. Once the pig fell victim to a slow pit stop, the day went downhill.
18. (13) RUSTY WALLACE 91.4
Normally, Rusty would probably be ecstatic heading into this weekend. But he’s been 0-for-short tracks the past two years.
19. (15) RICKY RUDD 91.35
Three laps and done. That’s a short day at work, even in a 40-lap feature at a short track.
20. (19) JOE NEMECHEK 90.9
Late engine trouble dropped him back in the finishing order. The strong start has slowed somewhat, and he needs to pick it back up.
21. (21) JAMIE McMURRAY 90.8
Welcome to the Big One, kid. And to think you came out of it better than most. At least you finished.
22. (18) DAVE BLANEY 90.6
He has fallen clear of the radar since Darlington. Crash, engine failure, crash, in that order. Maybe they over bargained with Lady Luck.
23. (30) WARD BURTON 86.5
Top-10 finish! So what if it was at a plate track; you haven’t looked that good since Martinsville last year (led most laps). Speaking of Martinsville…
24. (31) TERRY LABONTE 86.4
Same thing here: who cares if it was at a plate track? Terry and his fans will take a top-5 any way they can get it.
25. (24) JEFF BURTON 85.6
Just when he had a shot at staying in the top-20 in points, here comes the Big One to sweep him right back out.
26. (27) KENNY WALLACE 84
Did Kenny get penalized for his contact with Jimmie Johnson? How else would Tony Raines (who had lost the draft long before) have beaten him?
27. (26) JEFF GREEN 82.1
From the penthouse of RCR to shop restroom duties, in a big, big hurry.
28. (32) BILL ELLIOTT 81.9
He faded a bit in the final laps, but considering how the season has been, Bill’s got to take what he can get in terms of finishes.
29. (20) JOHNNY BENSON 81.8
He’s dropped 17 positions in points in the last four races. But remember how close he came to winning last year at Martinsville.
30. (23) JIMMY SPENCER 79.4
Where’s Jimmy? He’s out crinkling Mongo’s nose, that’s where.
31. (29) STEVE PARK 78.9
For once, Steve looked like the DEI car to beat. Then his spoiler decided to come loose on him.
T32. (28) JERRY NADEAU 73.2
A one week reprieve, and then back to the same old crap luck. What’s a soldier gotta do to win? Be in Baghdad?
T32. (33) JEREMY MAYFIELD 73.2
He’s finally done noteworthy things! Good pole. Not so good wreck. Decent finish. Now about your points…
34. (39) KYLE PETTY/FTTIPALDI 67.7
Kyle said this was what PE spent most of their off-season working on. It looks like it paid off.
35. (36) JOHN ANDRETTI 67.5
Do not adjust your TVs; that really was John Andretti, crumpled nose and all, leading the race and finishing in the top 15.
36. (35) TODD BODINE 63.9
Couldn’t quite go two straight weeks without wadding the car up, could you, Todd?
37. (34) CASEY MEARS 60.4
“So THIS is what it’s like to not finish a WC race. Heck, you get a decent check and don’t even break a sweat! Maybe I should do this more often…or not.”
38. (37) KEN SCHRADER 58.8
On the track: BAM! BAM! Scrrreeeeech! BAM! BAM!
In the garage: BAM! BAM! Scrrreeeeech! BAM! BAM!
I ask you, which one is safer?
39. (38) MIKE SKINNER 57.3
Pop quiz: In the last 3+ years, how many Kodak moments have there been for this team? Any answers? Thought so.
40. (40) JACK SPRAGUE 56.2
Time for a Chris Roberts-type question: Does the Big One in Winston Cup bear any similarities to those that occur in Busch Series cars?
41. (41) TONY RAINES 50.1
I guess Tony had the right strategy after all, taking a provisional for the start. He might have done better had he not lost the lead draft on the final pit stops.
42. (42) LARRY FOYT 37.3
In eight race attempts, the line is: 3 DNQ’s, and a best finish of 30th. Is it too late to try and convince your dad and sponsor to drop back down to the Busch Series again?
43. (43) BRETT BODINE 32.9
He’s made and attempted more races than any other part-timer this year, which is why he’s still on the list. He could use some help at the plate tracks, though.
